A Valentine for Lovie
Here I am, writing down my Valentine’s Day list of relatives and friends—the usual suspects. But for some reason, at the top of my list is Lovie.
For those of you who don’t know Lovie, she is a school crossing guard. She’s stationed at one of the busiest intersections in Culver City, where a preschool, an elementary school, middle school, and two high schools and an adult school meet.
Besides having knowledge of safety rules and regulations, this position requires lots of people skills—which Lovie has in abundance. Not just anyone can take on the job that Lovie does. Every school day, she brightens our mornings and afternoons with her greetings and smiles, while protecting our children and guiding them gently along the way. She is a wise senior citizen whose life experiences make her a role model for many.
Lately, however, there have been too many close calls. Several of the crossing guards talk about being close to run over by drivers, sometimes even when they are stopping traffic for children crossing the street. One close call is one too many, because all it takes is one hit to cause harm.
Anyone who drives or walks on our streets—that’s you and me–knows the dangers of being in a rush, distracted or not mindful of our surroundings. Perhaps, we need to be reminded to slow down and show our gratitude to the protectors of our children.
So, to Lovie and all our amazing Culver City crossing guards: I heart you!
Lynn Akamine